Opera in three actsLibretto by the composerFirst performed July 26th 1882, Festspielhaus, Bayreuth
Sung in German with German surtitles

About the Piece

Wagner's opera is full of allegory. Amfortas, guardian of the Holy Grail, was seduced by Kundry and wounded by Klingsor when he entered his magic garden, where he also lost the Sacred Spear. Gurnemanz, the wisest of the brotherhood, thinks Parsifal, a simple young man, might be the one who will be able to close these wounds again, but years are to pass before this turns out to be the case, years before he returns, with the Sacred Spear, is annointed and the Holy Grail - "It shall be hidden no more" – is revealed. The most mysterious character in the work is Kundry, who was cursed to wander the earth forever for laughing at Jesus' sufferings. She returns at the end of the opera and washes Parsifal's feet. He baptises her and she sinks, lifeless, to the floor. It is extraordinary how this production holds you spellbound from start to finish. Wagner's opera is full of allegory. Amfortas, guardian of the Holy Grail, was seduced by Kundry and wounded by Klingsor when he entered his magic garden, where he also lost the Sacred Spear. Gurnemanz, the wisest of the brotherhood, thinks Parsifal, a simple young man, might be the one who will be able to close these wounds again, but years are to pass before this turns out to be the case, years before he returns, with the Sacred Spear, is annointed and the Holy Grail - "It shall be hidden no more" – is revealed. The most mysterious character in the work is Kundry, who was cursed to wander the earth forever for laughing at Jesus' sufferings. She returns at the end of the opera and washes Parsifal's feet. He baptises her and she sinks, lifeless, to the floor. It is extraordinary how this production holds you spellbound from start to finish.